THURSDAY, AUG. 31, 2017

PADDLING -- Canoeing, kayaking and camping through Z Canyon on the Pend Oreille River downstream from Metaline Falls has been tough to pull off since July 10 when Seattle City Light closed the Boundary Dam forebay campground and boat launch for a major reconstruction project....

FRIDAY, AUG. 25, 2017

WATERSPORTS -- Boundary County has added a measure of safety for people who forget to bring their life jackets to a popular Kootenai River watersports area. Idaho's 101st life jacket loaner station recently was installed with the help of the Sheriff's Department at the Kootenai...

TUESDAY, AUG. 8, 2017

PARKS -- A near-record stretch of temperatures above 90 degrees has cooked the Eastern Washington landscape to tinder dry conditions and land managers are gradually increasing the restrictions to help prevent kicking off another wildfire. The latest announcement is posted today as Lake Roosevelt National...

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

RIVERS -- Spring flows have subsided enough to allow the river recreation on the Spokane River near Post Falls, Avista said today in a release. River recreation is now permitted again in the area between the Spokane Street Bridge and the boater safety cables located...

WATERSPORTS – The public access site at Newman Lake in eastern Spokane County will be closed Wednesday-Thursday, June 28-29, to allow treatment of the lake with herbicide to control Eurasian milfoil and other aquatic invasive weeds. The Newman Lake Flood Control Zone District, under permit...

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017

BOATING – Lake Pend Oreille should rise to its summer level of 2,062 feet by Monday, according to the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps operates Albeni Falls Dam, which regulates the level of Lake Pend Oreille. The lake elevation ranges from...

TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2017

FISHING -- The public boat ramp at Fan Lake in southwestern Pend Oreille County will be closed June 19-23 for minor renovations, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says. During the week long closure, a WDFW crew will remove and replace broken ramp planks...

MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2017

BOATING -- Two mussel encrusted boats were intercepted at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks watercraft inspection stations over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. “The interception of these boats over the weekend reinforces the importance of our efforts around Montana,” said FWP’s aquatic invasive species bureau...

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017

BOATING -- Lake Roosevelt is one of seven areas in Washington scheduled for an emphasis patrol targeting drunk boaters. State and local law enforcement agencies will join forces to conduct boating under the influence (BUI) emphasis patrols on waterways from Memorial Day weekend through...

MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017

FISHING -- Blackfeet tribal leaders have reopened four reservation waters to motorized boats after approving new regulations in response to the threat of aquatic invasive mussels. Motorized boats are allowed only in St. Mary, Duck, Mission and Four Horn lakes, the Flathead Beacon reports. Boats...

FISHING/BOATING -- Montana has taken a different twist on the regional fight against aquatic invasive species (AIS). All anglers are required to buy the state's new AIS Prevention Pass, according to legislation signed by Gov. Steve Bullock on Thursday. The requirement took effect Friday and...

RIVERS – Unusually large amounts of woody debris flushed out of the tributaries continues to clog the Snake River behind its dams causing problems for boaters and death to some salmon and steelhead. Last week, boaters in the Lewiston area couldn't safely launch on the...

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2017

WATERSPORTS -- Most kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are among the vessels required to have state Invasive Species Stickers before launching in Idaho waters, state officials says. A story in The Spokesman-Review last Thursday regarding the regional effort to confront aquatic invasive species was not complete...

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017

RESERVOIRS -- Good news for fishermen, boaters and travelers relying on the Gifford-Inchelium Ferry: The Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday that they were halting continuation of the drawdown at Lake Roosevelt at the request of the Colville Tribe. From an angler's...

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017

FISHING -- It took a little patience, but Lake Roosevelt gave up two limits of five plump, red-meated rainbow trout to my fishing buddy Jim Kujala and me on a damp but pleasant Monday. We used a boat to access several shore fishing area and...

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017

FISHING -- What a difference a year and a record wet winter has made at Coffeepot Lake east of Harrington. The popular Lincoln County trout lake, also a perch fishery, has suffered from low water in recent years, forcing anglers to portage small vessels over...

TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

INVASIVE SPECIES -- It's only the first week of spring and Idaho highway check stations already have intercepted three boats fouled with invasive species. The latest was an especially serious potential threat to the region's waterways. The mussel-fouled watercraft was intercepted Monday at the US...

RIVERS -- Anyone affected by the Columbia River and what goes on around it -- that's virtually everyone in this region -- should take note of a 13-episode TV documentary that will begin at 5 p.m., April 1, on PBS. “Way of the Columbia,” produced...

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017

INVASIVES – The Idaho Legislature has approved an emergency funding measure to expand the state’s boat inspection stations to check for invasive quagga and zebra mussels. The bill is headed to the governor’s desk for approval. According to the Associated Press, the nearly $1 million...

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017

WATERSPORTS -- The National Park Service is offering Lake Roosevelt Vacations, Inc., a one-year contract extension for operating the Kettle Falls Marina area. If accepted, the company will continue to operate the Park Service-owned marina complex on the Columbia River reservoir through April 30, 2018....

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22, 2017

DAMS -- The level of Lake Pend Oreille will increase 1.5-2.5 feet by the end of February as the outflow from Albeni Falls Dam is decreased to assist with downstream maintenance work, water managers announced today. At the request of Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S....

FISHING – A fishing club in Oregon is asking officials to ban jet-powered boat engines from a portion of the upper Rogue River. The Mail Tribune reports that the Medford-based Rogue Flyfishers Association and riverside landowner Greg Layton have filed a petition with the Oregon...

FISHING -- First there was the float tube, then the personal pontoon, kayaks equipped for fishing and stand-up paddleboards... the sudden rush of open water in the region has some anglers thinking about fishing boats and the options a mind-boggling. If you're looking for a...

THURSDAY, FEB. 9, 2017

WATERSPORTS -- The revised forecast has been released for water levels at Lake Roosevelt this spring as water managers predict how how much the Columbia River reservoir will be drawn down to accommodate spring runoff and how fast it will refill to summer elevations of...